Car coupling



2 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

(No Model.)

O; P. HIX.

GAR GOUPLING.

Patented Aug. 7', 1888..

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(No Model.) `.2 sheets-sheet 2.

,-0. P. HIX.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 387,416. 'Patented Aug. '7, 18.88.

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OLIVER I. HIX, OF ROCKLANDLMAINE, ASSIGNOR TO THE HIX AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CARCOUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part oi' Letters Patent No. 387,416, dated August 7, 1888.

Application filed February 23, 1888. Serial No. 264,885. (No model l To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER P. Hix, of Rockland, in the State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car- Couplers, of which the following is a specilication.

Itis the object of my invention to provide such improvements in what is generally known as vertical-plane77 couplers for cars, where 1o the hook, knuckle, or coupler acts also as a buffer, as that when the cars bunt or come together the knuckle will virtually be one with the head, and it will be as though the head received the impact shock substantially the same as does the old link-and-pin 7 coup ler, thus relieving the axial or supporting pin of the strain that would otherwise be put thereon.

The difficulty with vertical plane couplers zo as heretofore constructed has been that the axial pin of the hook or knuckle has been almostwholly, if not entirely, depended upon to receive the strain of the draft and the bunting shocks of the cars, and, as such strains and 2 5 shocks are cumulative in their effects, there must come a time when the sag of the pin will interfere with the operation of the hook or knuckle or lead to the destruction of the head, or both, because of the strain brought upon a 3c part not strong enough to bear it and (by reason of the size to which practice limits it) which cannot be made sufficiently strong to bear such strain and shock.

By mypresentirnprovements thesedifficulties and objections are entirely overcome, as I will now proceed to fully describe and claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, forming a part of this specification.

Of the drawings, Figure lis a top plan view (parts being shown in section) of two heads and draw-bars or parts of drawfbars equipped with vertical plane coupling devices oonstructed in accordance with my invention, the

devices being shown as in coupled position. Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l, showing the devices as in uncoupled position and as they will be on the hunting or coming together of the cars. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the draw-bars and associated parts. Fig. 4. is a top plan view of a drawbar and associated parts, showing the hook as opened or released.

Like letters of reference designate like parts and features in all ofthe views.

In the drawings, a designates a drawlbar equipped with verticalplane coupling devices consisting of a hook or knuckle, b,hav ing a pivotal and sliding connection with the head c of the draw-bar; and just here it may be mentioned that it is this pivotal and sliding connection of the hook or knuckle with the draw-bar that constitutes the essence of my invention, since it is by this that I am enabled to overcome the objections and accomplish the objects set out at the beginning of this specilication. Various forms of devices may be adopted to secure this end, that here shown consisting of a slot, d, formed in the draw-bar through which the axial pin e, passing through or secured to the knuckle or hook b, extends, so that said hook may have a limited movement longitudinally of the draw-bar as well as to be allowed to turn on its axial pin, though it is obvious that the same result would be attained if the pin were secured in the draw-head or draw-bar and the hook or knuckle were slotted substantially as the head is here shown to he.

The draw-bar is chambered to receive the weighted sliding bolt or barfas well as theA hook b, which bar is designed as a means for locking the hook in closed position, as when the cars are coupled or releasing said hook, as when it is desired to uncouple the cars, as S5 also for the purpose of pushing the hook or knuckle forward when from any cause it has been pushed rearward in the chamber of the draw bar or head. While other means may be employed for this purpose, that mentioned and here shown and described has been found efficient by way of meeting the desired end.

The bar or boltj' is, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, adapted to slide vertically in an inclined direction, which to allintents and purposes in this device is a vertical and longitudinal movement in the draw-bar, the vertical and rearward movement being effected by any suitable means, pressing upward against the foot or projection g, formed on the lower roo side of the barf, and the forward and downward movementbeing effected by the gravity or weight of the bar or'bolt itself. Said bar fis guided in its movements by any suitable appliances, those here shown being a pin, h, extending laterally through an inclined slot, i, formed in the bar or bolt, and bearings in the draw-bar, through which the projection j of said bar or bolt extends.

The hook b is provided on its outer end with shoulders or vertical offsets 7c, which are eonstructed and arranged to strike or bear against the end of the draw bar or head when said hooks are moved or slid inwardly as far as i5 may be, as when the cars are uncoupled and two cars come together, as represented in Fig. 2, in which ease the axial pin c will not have been moved entirely to the rear end of the slot d, sothat said pin will not be made to rezc eeive any ofthe impact or strain resulting from the shock, and when the cars are coupled, as represented in Fig. l, and they bunt or come together by reason of the fact that the hooks are allowed to have a limited sliding move- 2 5 ment with respect to the drawbar,the knuckles or hooks will come together and against the ends of the draw bars or heads, and so be virtually one with the head, and be so seated as to call ont its full resistance, substantially as 3o does the linkami-pin coupler. Vhen the hook or knuckle b is closed, as when the cars are coupled, as represented in Fig. l, and said hook is forced rearwardly, the bolt or bar f will also be pushed back or rearwardly, and when the hook is left free to be moved forward the bar or bolt f will move by its own gravity downward and forward, keepingmits forward end against the rear face of the projection I, so that the shoulder or offset m on 4o the rear of the hook or knuckle will come against the side of the forward end of bar f and prevent the hook from turning on its axial pin e and uncoupling the cars. XVhen, however, itis desired to unconple cars or open ./,5 the hook, the crankrod yn will be turned so as to raise and move rearwardly bolt or bar f from the full to the dotted line position, Fig. 3, in which posit-ion the forward end of said bolt or bar will be moved back and free of 5o the offset m of the hook, and so allow the latter to turn on its axial pin @from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 4. The weight or pressure of the bolt or bar f against the rear face, y, of the hook will press said hook forward and turn it on its axial pin, as

represented in the last-mentioned figure.

Itis obvious that other means may be employed for locking the hook in closed position and releasing it, though that here .shown has 6o been found convenient and effective.

o represents a recess formed in the hook b for the reception of an old form of link, and

p designates a hole through which an old form of pin may be passed, so that a draw-bar equipped with my improvements may be connected with a car provided only with a link and pin as a coupling means.

Various changes may be made in the form and arrangement of parts and features of my improvements without departing from the nature or spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is- 1. In a carlcoupler, a draw bar or head combined with a coupling hook or knuckle pivoted in a vertical plane to the head or bar, and having a limited sliding movement longitudinally of the same, the construction and arrangement of the hook and bar with respect to each other being such that the hook may be moved inward or rearward and bear or be seated against the end of the bar and become virtually one therewith, as set forth.

2. In a car-coupler, a draw bar or head combined with a coupling hook or knuckle pivoted to the head and havinga limited sliding movement longitudinally of the same, and a weighted bolt or bar for locking said hook against, and releasing it to permit of, action on its pivot, said weighted bolt being constructed and arranged to bear against the hook or knuckle and hold it normally pressed forward, as set forth.

3. In a car-coupler, a draw bar or head combined with a coupling hook or knuckle pivoted to the head and having a limited sliding movement longitudinally ofthe head, and a weighted bolt or bar having a movement vertically and longitudinally with respect to the head for locking said hook against, and releasing it to permit of, action on ils pivot, substantially as set forth.

4. In a car-coupler, a draw bar or head combined with a coupling hook or knuckle pivoted to the head and having alimited slid ing movement longitudinally ot' the head, and a weighted locking bolt or bar havinga move` ment vertically and longitudinally with respect to the head, said bolt or bar heilig arranged to bear against the coupling hook or knuckle, whereby when the latter is pressed rearwardly in the draw bar or head and left free the weighted locking-holt will push it forward again to its normal position and turn it on its axial pin when uncoupled or released, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereoffhave signed my name to this specificatiomin the presence of two sub scribing witnesses, this 13th day of February, A. D. 1888.

OLIVER P. HIX.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CRossLnY, A. D. HARRIsoN.

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